Grapple



Aug. 14, 1934.

H. C. BRADFORD GRAPPLE Filed May 4, 1934- INVENTOR 6, 45% ATTORNEY3 Patented Aug. 14, 1934 UNITED STATES GRAPPLE Harry 0. Bradford, Kalamazoo, Mich., assignor to Rex Paper Company, Kalamazoo, Mich.

Application May 4, 1934, Serial No. 723,885

2 Claims.

The main object of this invention is to provide a grapple for handling heavy objects, such for example as rolls of paper, which is easily engaged with the article to be handled, has a very secure engagement therewith when carrying the load, and one which minimizes danger to the operator in that the parts cannot close up, either under load or when being handled, on the hands or fingers of the operator.

A further object is to provide a grapple having these advantages which is very simple and economical in structure and easyto operate.

Objects pertaining to details and economies of my invention will definitely appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined in the claims.

A structure which embodies the features of my invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 isa side elevation of a grapple embodying the features of my invention partly broken away to show structural details, illustrating in full lines the grappling position and in dotted lines the open position.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view on a line corresponding to line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

In the accompanying drawing, 1 represents a roll of paper and 2 a core therefor. My improved grapple is shown in operative relation to this load by full lines and in disengaged or released position by dotted lines.

My improved grapple comprises a pair of downwardly diverging hanger bars 3 which constitute the frame of the grapple, these bars being preferably formed of two pieces of flat stock 4 secured together to provide forked ends, the pieces 4 being flared outwardly at their ends and connected in spaced relation by the bolts 5 provided with spacers between the members 4. The arms of the forks are pivotally connected together by the bolts 6.

Lever-like jaw members 7 are pivotally mounted on the outer ends of the bars 3 by means of the pivots 8. These pivots are arranged so that the jaw portions 9 are below the bars 3 and the upper ends of the jaw members project substantially above the pivots. A pair of downwardly inclined levers 10 are pivoted at 11 between the upper ends of the member constituting the bars 3. 50 The lower ends of the levers 10 are pivotally connectedat 12. The upper ends of these levers are connected by the links 13 to the upper ends of the arms '7, the pivots 14 securing the links to the levers 10 while the pivots 15 connect the links to the jaw members. g

The hoist or load carrying cable 16 is arranged between the forks of the bars 4 as illustrated and connected by the clevis 17 to the pivot 12 of the levers 10. With the parts thus arranged the engagement of the grapple jaws with the load is effected by swinging them toward each other is indicated by full lines in the drawing. When pull is applied to the cable the tendency is to force the jaws into holding or clamping engagement with the load, the greater the load the greater the clamping or load engaging stress.

The grapple can be quickly released merely by easing off the stress on the hoisting cable and the jaws are free to swing outwardly, but it is to be noted that-the parts are not likely to be collapsed one upon another so as to pinch or grasp the operator. When normally suspended without load, the balance of the parts is such that they do not completely collapse; in fact, that is quite impossible. The grapple can be quickly engaged and the engagement of the load is very secure. The connection for the cable is such that the grapple is held upright.

I have illustrated and described my improvements in an embodiment especially designed for the handling of very heavy loads, such as rolls of paper in a paper mill, but I desire to point out that my improved grapple is desirable and readily adaptable for use with cranes and in load handling generally.

7 Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a grapple, the combination of a pair of downwardly diverging hanger bars forked at their ends, the upper ends of the bars being pivotally connected, lever-like jaw members pivoted between the forked outer ends of said bars and having jaws at their lower ends, a pair of inwardly converging toggle levers pivotally connected at their inner ends and pivoted between the forks of said hanger bars, links connecting the upper ends of said levers to the upper ends of said jaw members, and a load cable disposed between the forks of said hanger bars and con.- nected to the pivot for the inner ends of said levers.

2. In a grapple, the combination of a pair of downwardly diverging hanger bars pivotally connected at their upper ends, lever-like body members pivoted to the outer ends of said bars and having jaws at their lower ends, a pair of inwardly inclined levers pivotally mounted on said hanger bars and pivotally connected at their inner ends, links connecting the upper ends of said levers to the upper ends of said jaw members, and a load cable connected to the inner ends of said levers and having supporting sliding engagement with the upper ends of said hanger bars.

HARRY C. BRADFORD. 

